Absorbent, deodorizing, hygienic animal bedding composition and method of manufacture

ABSTRACT

An animal bedding composition and method of manufacture includes cut or shredded pieces of multiple panel corrugated cardboard kraft paper structures having an internal corrugated panel sandwiched between outer panels, and an adsorptive deodorizing ion exchange agent such as a zeolite dispersed throughout the cardboard pieces and carried on outer and inner surfaces of the pieces of cardboard and on outer and inner surfaces of the corrugations to provide a comfortable, hygienic and deodorized floor covering for animal stalls. An automated method of manufacturing the animal bedding composition is also described. The ion exchange agent attaches to surfaces of the corrugated cardboard which serves as a carrier to sanitize and deodorize a stall. The open structure of the cut corrugations provides mechanical load absorption, and a wicking action to aerate moisture from a stall. The ion exchange agent carried by the corrugated pieces removes ammonia odor from urine and provides slow release potassium and, when loaded with ammonium, slow release of nitrogen for agricultural fertilization. Carbon in the kraft paper from which the corrugated cardboard is constructed attracts nitrogen from urine, yielding excellent fertilizing material with rapid biodegradation.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to animal bedding materials andmore specifically to synthetic or preprocessed materials which provide acomfortable stall floor covering, and control moisture, dust and odor inanimal housing environments. The invention also relates to methods ofmaking and packaging animal bedding materials and compositions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a typical managed care facility for large animals such as horses,cows, etc., stalls are provided for occupancy by one or more animals ata time. A critical element of the stall is the flooring or beddingmaterial, as animals spend many hours in a stall as a place for feedingand resting. Stall floors are typically dirt or concrete or, morerecently, rubberized mats. Traditionally, straw or hay is distributedover the flooring to provide a softer surface and some very limitedabsorption of animal waste. In fact, straw and hay are not veryabsorbent, do not have adequate cushioning, and after mixing with animalwaste become very slippery. Stall floors lined with organic materialssuch as straw or hay provide a breeding ground for various fungi whichcan cause respiratory and hoof infections, and induce allergic reactionsin animals and humans. Furthermore, straw and hay do not perform anydeodorizing or odor reducing function. Additives such as hydrated limehave been used with straw and hay as an ammonia/odor control agent. Limehas the disadvantages of high toxicity and is therefore relativelyhazardous, low relative ammonia removal and high relative pH/highalkalinity, rendering the discarded stall material unsuitable for use asa fertilizer. Another disadvantage of straw and hay is the large amountof dust produced when these materials are applied to stall floors. Thisdust is inhaled by the animals causing irritation to the respiratorytract, making them more susceptible to the harmful effects of ammoniainhalation. This is particularly harmful to young animals that spendmuch of their time laying on stall floors where the dust accumulates.Dust is also unsanitary and hazardous and to the breeding and birthingprocesses.

Alternatively, a number of different materials, organic and inorganic,have been proposed for use as animal bedding material. Among thesematerials are cardboard, shredded paper such as recycled newsprint, woodshavings and mixtures of these materials. However, a number ofdisadvantages arise from use of these alternative materials. Forinstance, shredded paper is quickly saturated with animal urine andsolid waste. It becomes matted and heavy and thus difficult to removefrom the stall. Bedding material made from wood shavings, on the otherhand, provides support and comfort, but has limited absorptioncharacteristics and can contribute to fungal growth. Wood shavings arealso slow to biodegrade and thus are unsuitable for use as fertilizer.An additional disadvantage of wood shavings is that the individualpieces get tangled in the hair, mane and tail of horses and otheranimals, making cleaning and grooming arduous.

An additional shortcoming of these prior art animal bedding materials isthat they do not impede ammonia production in stalls where animals arehoused. Even in small concentrations, ammonia can pose a health problemto animals. it has been shown that atmospheric ammonia is damaging tothe respiratory tract. Even relatively low concentrations of ammonia candiminish airway defense mechanisms, making animals more vulnerable topneumonia and asthma-like symptoms, leading to a higher incidence andincreased severity of pneumonia, particularly in young animals. Lowerweight gains have been observed in animals kept in stalls with ammoniaconcentrations as low as 25 ppm. Moreover, these materials offer no odormasking or odor reduction properties. The odors also attract flies andother insects which can carry disease and further stress the animals.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,186 describes an absorbent animal bedding materialof nodules of cellulose material made from paper pulp produced fromwaste paper. These nodules have a smooth, hard, porous surface andresist breakage during use and handling. However, this material does notsupport the weight of large animals like horses and cows and createsdust when crushed. The nodules are crushed by the weight of these largeanimals, substantially reducing the amount of support and cushionprovided by the bedding material. Also, this material is not easily oreconomically produced and requires numerous manufacturing steps andexpensive mixing and heating equipment. Like the materials describedabove, this animal bedding material does not reduce ammonia productionor odor.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,314 discloses an animal bedding material produced bymixing finely shredded cellulose material with calcium oxide and waterto form a slurry. The slurry is then neutralized by mixing it withdiatomaceous earth or a non-swelling clay and dried to form the animalbedding material. This animal bedding material is absorbent, but doesnot inhibit ammonia production and provides no relief from theunpleasant odor produced from animal waste.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,195,465 and 5,352,780 each describe a litter materialmade from compacted cellulose which has been formed into pellets andflaked. Both of these patents suggest adding fungicides, coloringagents, insecticides and herbicides to the flaked material to extend thelife of the litter and reduce bacterial and fungal growth. However,neither patent offers a solution to the odor and ammonia productionproblems associated with other prior art animal bedding materials.

It has also been suggested in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,133,296 and 5,265,561 tocombine waste cardboard and wood pallets to make animal beddingmaterial. However, the addition of the wood to the cardboardsubstantially decreases the biodegradability of this material making thebedding material essentially useless as fertilizer after it has becomesaturated with animal waste. Although wood chips are still used on stallfloors, they must be kept separate from straw or hay for disposal asrecycling fertilizer. Compost haulers will not accept stall waste whichincludes wood chips. Stall waste disposal is a critical issue,particularly with large animal care facilities such as zoos, racetracks,and horse farms. A stall material which cannot be economically disposedof cannot be used. This fact eliminates any material which contains woodor any other slow degrading material. Thus, a stall material is neededthat performs hygienic and ergonomic functions in the stall, and abiodegradable fertilizing function in waste form has not been provided.Like the previously described prior art animal bedding materials, thisapproach offers no solution to the odor and ammonia production problemassociated with conventional animal bedding materials.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

To overcome these and other disadvantages of the prior art, it is anobject of the present invention to provide an inexpensive and effectivecomfortable, absorbent and deodorizing material that is useful as ananimal bedding or stall floor lining material. It is a further object ofthe invention to provide such a material that is essentially dust freeand inhibits the production of ammonia and reduces the unpleasant odorin areas where animals are housed. It is still a further object of thepresent invention to provide an efficient method of mass producing ananimal bedding material composition having superior ammonia and odorreduction properties. It is still a further object of the invention toprovide a stall floor covering composition which when soiled with animalwaste provides a rapidly biodegradable fertilizer with high nitrogencontent ready for immediate application by agricultural growers.

The present invention is directed to an improved animal bedding materialhaving superior cushioning properties and ammonia and odor reductionfunction. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the animalbedding material is comprised of strips or pieces of shredded corrugatedcardboard combined with an ion exchange agent. The ion exchange agentmay be an ammonia adsorbent material in powderized form. The strips ofcorrugated cardboard are formed by cutting sheets of cardboard intostrips so that the corrugations between parallel outer panels remainintact. The strips or pieces are then mixed with the ion exchange agentso that it is distributed on the outer and inner surfaces of thecardboard strips and inside the corrugations of the cardboard. Thecorrugated air-containing structure of the cardboard pieces providescushioning and shock absorption which relieves stress on animal hoovesand legs, and promotes healing of lame animals without the need forexpensive alternate stall flooring such as rubber mats.

The animal bedding material of the present invention is produced byfeeding sheets of cardboard into a shredding or cutting device thatperforms at least two different cutting operations. In one such device,a first set of blades cuts the sheets of cardboard into strips which arethen cut with a second set of blades to a desired length. Paper fiberdust is removed from the strips or pieces by a vacuum system, and thepieces are combined with an ion exchange agent in powder or particulateform. The bedding material composition is then packaged in a sealedcontainer or bag for delivery to a stall and distributed directly upon astall floor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus for producing an animalbedding composition according to the method of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sheet of corrugated cardboard used tomake the animal bedding composition of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a single piece of the animal beddingcomposition of the present invention, and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a manufacturing process for producing theanimal bedding composition of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, an animal bedding composition and amethod of making the animal bedding composition of the present inventionis illustrated. A sheet of corrugated cardboard material 10 is provided.As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet of cardboard is comprised of a first edge12, a second edge 14, and a plurality of corrugations 16. Thecorrugations 16 are generally parallel to the first edge 12 and thesecond edge 14 and extend the length of the sheet of corrugatedcardboard 10. The cardboard 10 may be new or recycled stock of two panelsandwiched corrugations ranging in total thickness from approximately{fraction (1/16)}″ to ½″. The outer panels are preferably kraft paper (atough paper made from sulfate wood pulp) or other fibrous cellulosicmaterial ranging in thickness from approximately {fraction (1/32)}″ toapproximately ⅛″. The internal corrugated layer, known as fluting, isalso preferably made of kraft paper or other fibrous, cellulosicmaterial with a flute height, as measured from one interior side of anoverlying panel to an opposing side of a parallel overlying panel, in arange of approximately {fraction (1/16)}″ to ¼″. Preferably, thecorrugated cardboard used for the composition of the invention is aC-flute size of approximately {fraction (3/16)}″ height. Although shownwith corrugations 16 in a general sinusoidal form, other configurationsof the internal layer are possible, or any other structure which createsan air gap between the outer panels, as further described herein.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, one or more sheets of corrugatedcardboard 10 is fed into a shredder 12. One type of shredding devicewhich can be used in the method of this invention is the Cross Shredmanufactured by Industrial Paper Shredders, Inc. of Salem, Ohio.However, other brands of shredders or other types of cutting devices maybe used. The Cross Shred is capable of accepting cardboard sheets havinga maximum width of about 20 inches and incorporates a two blade cuttingsystem which first cuts the cardboard sheet into strips with a width inan approximate range of ⅛ inch to 1 inch or greater, and then chops orcuts the strips into particles having a length in an approximate rangeof ¼ inch to about 1 inch or greater. The sheets of corrugated cardboard10 are fed into the shredder 12 with the corrugations 16 generallyperpendicular to a first set of blades in the shredder 12. Sheets ofcorrugated cardboard 10 may be fed individually into the shredder, or aplurality of sheets may be stacked and fed simultaneously into theshredder 12. Using the Cross Shred machine, it is preferred that no morethan three stacked sheets of corrugated cardboard 10 be fed into theshredder at a time. If more than three sheets of corrugated cardboard 10are fed into the Cross Shred, the corrugations may be crushed, thusdiminishing the shock absorption and wicking aeration action of thecorrugated cardboard as further described herein. However, other cuttingor shredding devices may allow more than three sheets of corrugatedcardboard to be cut simultaneously without crushing the internalcorrugated layer. The sheets of corrugated cardboard are cut into stripsof about ⅜ inch in width. The ⅜ inch wide strips are then cut intopieces 18 having a length of about ½ inch to about 1 inch.

The pieces 18 then exit the shredder 12 at the exit point 20 and aretransferred to a conveyor belt 21. A vacuum system 22 is provided at anexit point 20 from the shredder to remove and collect any paper fiberdust particles resulting from the shredding of the cardboard 10. Thepieces 18 are then transferred by conveyor belt 21 to mixing containers26 and mixed with an ion-exchange additive in powder form as may beapplied from a dispensing device 24 positioned proximate to conveyor 21whereby the additive is disposed on the pieces 18 and inside thecorrugations 16. The dispensing device 24 may be shrouded to contain thepowder particulates of the ion exchange agent as it is applied to thepieces. In a mass production set-up, containers 26 may be supported on amoving carousel or conveyor so that once a container is filled, it isautomatically advanced to a closing or sealing station whereat thecontainer or bag is sealed and removed from the conveyance andpalletized for shipment.

One particular form of an ion-exchange agent which has been discoveredto be especially well-suited for the inventive composition is one ormore forms of the natural substance zeolite. Zeolites are naturallyoccurring volcanic minerals or synthesized materials which containhydrogen, oxygen, aluminum and silicon arranged in a three-dimensionalinterconnecting lattice structure. Zeolites have the ability toselectively adsorb specific gas molecules and the ability to reversiblyadsorb and desorb water. One particular form of zeolite, clinoptiloliteis most preferred for use in the present invention due to its highselectivity for ammonium ions. However, other zeolites such as syntheticzeolites F and W may be used. Clinoptilote is non-toxic, edible andeasily digested and has been used as a food supplement for cattle andswine to improve metabolism and lessen bloating. As such, it is safe anddoes not pose the health problems associated with other odor controladditives such as lime. Ammonium ions are adsorbed by theclinoptilolite, reducing the amount of airborne ammonia typically foundin areas where animals are housed. The reduction of airborne ammoniareduces respiratory distress it is proven to cause.

Zeolites, and in particular clinoptiloite, also have excellentagricultural fertilization properties. This is critical to the successof a stall material as it must be economically disposed of. In otherwords, acceptance of used stall material by agricultural growers isrequired in order for a stall material to be used in large quantities.Clinoptilolite is high in potassium as major exchangeable cation,providing slow release potassium, and nitrogen when pre-loaded withammonium.

Preferably, the containers 26 are filled with pieces 18 to about 50% ofcapacity and about 50% of a predetermined amount of ion exchange agentin powder form is added to the pieces 18. The containers 26 are thencompletely filled with pieces 18 and the remaining ion exchange agentpowder is mixed in. The ion exchange agent can alternatively bedistributed on the pieces 18 using a sifting mechanism as the pieces 18are moved along conveyor belt 21. A preferred form of the animal beddingcomposition may have from about ½ ounces to about 8 ounces ofclinoptilolite per 3 cubic feet of pieces 18, preferably from about 1ounce to about 3 ounces of clinoptilolite per 3 cubic feet of pieces 18.

FIG. 3 shows a piece 18 of the animal bedding composition. As usedherein, the term “composition” means the combination of the cardboardpieces and the particles 25 of the ion exchange agent. As illustrated, acorrugated cardboard structure includes outer generally parallel panels31 with inner surfaces 30 and outer surfaces 32, and an inner panel 40having a plurality of corrugations 34. The corrugations 34 each have afirst surface 36 and a second surface 38. The height of the corrugations34 from one inner surface 30 to the opposing inner surface 30 of panels31 dictates the thickness of the cardboard structure. For purposes ofpracticing the invention, a corrugated cardboard structure with arelatively greater or increased thickness is preferred. Increasedthickness provides a mechanical benefit of shock and pressureabsorption, and provides a greater amount of internal surface area as acarrier structure for a powderized form of an ion exchange additiverepresented schematically, not to scale, as particles 25. The particles25 are, through mechanical mixture, carried by and attached to thecorrugated cardboard pieces 18 to form the composition.

The ion exchange agent particles 25 are disposed on the inner and outersurfaces 30 and 32, and on the inside and outside surfaces 36 and 38 ofthe corrugations 34. As explained, the preferred ion exchange agent iszeolite, and the most preferred zeolite is clinoptilolite.Clinoptilolite is preferred due to its excellent ammonia adsorptioncapability. When the zeolite is mixed with the corrugated pieces 18, anddistributed on the inner and outer surfaces 30 and 32, and on the insideand outside surfaces 36 and 38 of the corrugations 34, the absorptionproperties of the cardboard are combined with the adsorption propertiesof the zeolite. Moisture is absorbed by the cardboard and adsorbed bythe zeolite. This combined moisture absorption/adsorption is furthercombined with the mechanical cushioning and shock absorption of thecorrugated structure. Further, it has been discovered that there issufficient mechanical bonding between the adsorbent, deodorizing zeolitematerial and the external and internal surfaces of a corrugatedcardboard structure such that the cardboard acts as both a carrier anddistributor of the adsorbent, deodorizing zeolite material throughoutthe area of distribution of the shredded particles. It has also beendiscovered that, in the animal stall application as described, thecorrugated cardboard structure provides a hydrodynamic wicking action toaerate and evaporate moisture from the stall floor. As the pieces 18become wet, the air gaps between the outer panels 31 and the innercorrugated layer 34 allow air to pass through each piece to evaporatemoisture. The presence of the zeolite within the air gaps of the pieces18 increases the amount of ammonium ion exchange which occurs, thusmaximizing the reduction of ammonia odor and respiratory distress.

When the composition is distributed about a stall floor, a substantialamount of the zeolite remains disposed on all surfaces of each piece 18.It is desirable that a portion of the zeolite also fall on the stallfloor. Part of the animal waste is absorbed by the shredded cardboardand part of the waste works its way through the bedding material to thestall floor. The zeolite on the stall floor adsorbs ammonium from thewaste that has fallen to the stall floor. The bedding material acts as awick, slowing absorbing waste from the stall floor. The corrugationsallow for air flow and slow drying, so that the pieces do not mattogether.

The animal bedding composition can be spread upon a stall floor in anythickness, such as approximately 2 inches or up to 10 inches or greaterdepending on the type of animals housed. For example, in stalls for showor race horses, it is desirable to have a thicker layer of bedding toprovide more support and cushion. The composition is periodicallyremixed or agitated in the stall to redistribute both the cardboardpieces and the particulates of ion exchange agent. When the compositionbecomes soiled with animal waste, it is collected and used as anagricultural fertilizer in direct soil applications. For example, when aportion of the composition within a stall is soiled, it is removed bypitch fork or shovel in the ordinary manner of “mucking out”. Theremoval composition is replaced by a fresh supply of equal quantity. Thesoiled composition is ideally suited as a fertilizer for growingvegetables and especially mushrooms. This is due to the high carboncontent of the kraft paper of which the corrugated cardboard isconstructed and the excellent fertilizing properties of zeolite as aslow release of nitrogen and potassium. The carbon bonds to nitrogenpresent in urine, thus the urine soaked bedding composition is anitrogen-rich fertilizer. As mentioned, critical to the superiorperformance of the composition as a vegetable and mushroom fertilizer isthe absence of wood shavings which are not as rapidly biodegradable ascardboard. Stall materials which contain wood shavings are notacceptable to agricultural growers. Thus, wood shavings when used installs must be kept segregated from other materials.

The animal bedding composition of the invention is easier to spread onstall floors than the prior art bedding materials. Unlike hay and straw,the cardboard pieces do not clump together. As such, it is not necessaryto separate the pieces after the material is poured onto the stallfloor. This also makes the waste removal or “mucking out” proceduresimpler. Because the individual pieces of the bedding material do notstick together, the animal waste separates from the bedding materialmore readily. As a result, relatively less material is needed toreplenish the bedding. Also, the resulting waste is less bulky than withother bedding materials because a relatively large amount of the beddingmaterial remains on the stall floor after the animal waste is removed.

Accordingly, the preferred and alternate embodiments of the presentinvention have been described. With the foregoing description in mind,however, it is understood that this description is made only by way ofexample, that the invention is not limited to the particular embodimentsdescribed herein, and that various rearrangements, modifications andsubstitutions may be implemented without departing from the true spiritof the invention as hereinafter claimed.

We claim:
 1. An animal bedding composition for distribution upon ananimal stall to provide a hygienic support medium comprising a mixtureof (a) shredded cardboard composed of individual cardboard pieces havinginternal corrugations and outer panels forming air gaps therebetween,said cardboard pieces having a length of about ⅛ inch to 1 inch, a widthof about ¼ inch to 1 inch and a height of about {fraction (1/16)} inchto ½ inch; and (b) about ½ to 8 ounces of clinoptilolite per 3 cubicfeet of cardboard for reducing the amount of airborne ammonia fromanimal waste, the clinoptilolite being disposed on the outer panels andinternal corrugations of the corrugated cardboard pieces.
 2. Thecomposition of claim 1, wherein about 1 to 3 ounces of clinoptilolite ismixed with 3 cubic feet of cardboard.
 3. The composition of claim 1,wherein the height of each of the pieces is approximately {fraction(3/16)} inch.
 4. The composition of claim 1, wherein each of the pieceshas a width of about ⅜ inch and a length of about ½ to 1 inch.
 5. Ananimal bedding composition for distribution upon an animal stall toprovide a hygienic support medium, the animal bedding compositioncomprising: (a) a plurality of corrugated cardboard pieces, the pieceshaving a width of approximately ⅛ to 1 inch and a length ofapproximately ¼ to 1 inch and a height of approximately {fraction(1/16)} to ½ inch, the pieces having internal corrugations and outerpanels forming air gaps therebetween; and (b) clinoptilolite inparticulate form for adsorbing ammonia ions, the clinoptiloliteinterspersed with the corrugated cardboard pieces whereby theclinoptilolite is disposed on the outer panels and internal corrugationsof the corrugated cardboard pieces, and wherein the pieces and theclinoptilolite are combined in an approximate ratio of about 1 to 10ounces of clinoptilolite per about 3 to 6 cubic feet of pieces.
 6. Theanimal bedding composition of claim 5 wherein the corrugated cardboardis constricted of kraft paper.
 7. The animal bedding composition ofclaim 5 wherein the composition is distributed over a the floor of thestall at an average approximate thickness in a range of 1 to 10 inches,and a portion of the clinoptilolite carried by the corrugated cardboardpieces is placed in contact with the stall floor.
 8. The animal beddingcomposition of claim 5 wherein the corrugated cardboard pieces arerandomly oriented upon the stall floor and operative to collapse uponcompression under weight such as applied by an animal in the stall. 9.The animal bedding composition of claim 5 wherein the pieces and theclinoptilolite are combined in an approximate ratio of about 1 to 8ounces of clinoptilolite per about 3 cubic feet of pieces.
 10. An animalbedding composition for use as a covering for an animal stall floor toprovide cushioning relatively free from fibrous dust particles, moistureabsorption and adsorption. and odor control, and to further provide aready-to-apply agricultural fertilizer when used in waste form incombination with animal waste, including urine, the animal beddingcomposition comprising: (a) a plurality of pieces of kraft paper in amultiple panel structure having outer generally parallel panels and aninternal panel connected to the outer panels and providing an air gabbetween the outer panels, wherein the pieces of kraft paper are cut in aconfiguration in which an internal structure which separates the outerpanels is preserved, and wherein each of said pieces having a width ofapproximately ⅛ inch to 1 inch and a length of approximately ¼ inch to 1inch and a height in a range of approximately {fraction (1/16)} inch toabout ½ inch, and (b) clinoptilolite in a particulate form for adsorbingammonia ions, said clinoptilolite interspersed with the pieces andsubstantially in contact with all surfaces of the pieces, whereby theclinoptilolite is carried by the pieces when distributed upon a stallfloor, and air and moisture within a stall contacts the kraft paper ofthe pieces and the clinoptilolite particulates on the pieces providing amoisture and odor reduction process, and (c) wherein about 2 to 8 ouncesof clinoptilolite is mixed with about 3 cubic feet of cardboard, and theclinoptilolite particulates are present on the internal and externalsurfaces of the kraft paper pieces, and excess clinoptiloliteparticulates are carried by the pieces for distribution upon a stallfloor.
 11. The animal bedding composition of claim 10 wherein the piecesof kraft paper have a fluted corrugated structure.
 12. The animalbedding composition of claim 10, wherein: (a) the kraft paper containsnitrogen, said nitrogen provided by animal waste, including urine,coming into contact with the craft paper, and resulting from the bondcreated between the carbon content contained within the kraft paper andthe nitrogen contained within said animal waste; and (b) theclinoptilolite particulates contain ammonia ions and nitrogen, saidammonia ions and nitrogen resulting from animal waste, including urine.13. The animal bedding composition of claim 10 wherein, upondistribution of said animal bedding composition upon an animal stallfloor, a portion of the clinoptilolite particulates carried by the kraftpaper pieces detaches from the kraft paper pieces and is distributeddirectly upon the floors and a portion of the clinoptiloliteparticulates remain in contact with the craft paper pieces.
 14. Ananimal bedding composition comprising: (a) a cellulosic materialconsisting essentially of a plurality of corrugated cardboard pieces,each of the pieces having a structure comprised of at least one internalcorrugation and at least two outer panels, the internal corrugation andthe outer panels each having an interior and exterior surface, each ofthe outer panels generally parallel to each other, the internalcorrugation and outer panels defining at least one air gap in each ofsaid pieces, the air gap defining at least two openings in said piecewhereby a liquid may flow through the piece, each of said pieces havinga length of approximately ⅛ inch to 1 inch and a width of approximately¼ inch to 1 inch and a height in a range of approximately {fraction(1/16)} inch to about ½ inch, and (b) clinoptilolite in particulateform, interspersed with the corrugated cardboard pieces and disposed onthe interior and exterior surfaces of the outer panels and the internalcorrugation of the corrugated cardboard pieces, such that liquid animalwaste comprising ammonia ions flows around and through the pieces tocontact with the clinoptilolite disposed on the interior and exteriorsurfaces of the outer panels and the internal corrugation of thecorrugated cardboard pieces, and the clinoptilolite adsorbs ammonia ionsfrom the liquid animal waste, and (c) wherein about ½ to 8 ounces ofclinoptilolite is mixed with about 3 cubic feet of cardboard.